Your Online Monastery for Your Spiritual Practice

Abbess love notes

Sacred Balance ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Dearest monks and artists, Melinda Thomas has been offering her admin support at Abbey of the Arts for many years now. She is often the warm voice who replies to your emails and she makes sure the daily email newsletter gets formatted and scheduled. She has many more gifts, however, including being a terrific writer and an inspiring yoga teacher. She published a book last fall which brings together principles of yogic teaching with those from Benedictine spirituality, two traditions which have shaped me in significant ways. I am really delighted that she agreed to offer an online retreat for

May 30, 2021

Monk in the World Guest Post: Lisa Bozarth Ozaeta

I am delighted to share this beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series by Lisa Bozarth Ozaeta. Lisa is joining Abbey of the Arts as our new seminary intern for the next two years. She is in training for ordination in the Episcopal church and we are delighted to have her enthusiasm and gifts in service to this community. She will be involved in several of our programs. Here she shares a bit of her own practice of silence: One of my rituals is to plant myself on my back deck early in the morning. I

May 26, 2021

Abbess love notes

Pentecost + Monk in the World podcast (Creative Joy)

[siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Button_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget] “What is serious to men is often very trivial in the sight of God. What in God might appear to us as ‘play’ is perhaps what He Himself takes most seriously. At any rate the Lord plays and diverts Himself in the garden of His creation, and if we could let go of our own obsession with what we think is the meaning of it all, we might be able to hear His call and follow Him in His mysterious, cosmic dance.” —Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation Dearest monks and artists, We now have morning and evening

May 23, 2021

Monk in the World Guest Post: Tom (TA) Delmore

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to our Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Tom (TA) Delmore’s reflection taken from the introduction to his book Crossing up River. A children’s story which is only enjoyed By children is a bad children’s story. ~ C. S. Lewis I have been a shy searcher for a relationship with God most of my life. Different paths have taught me much. This is God and I walking together. St Ignatius of Loyola taught me something about story. He said: “put yourself in the gospel story, imagine what it

May 19, 2021

Awakening the Creative Spirit + Monk in the World podcast (Conversion) ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

[siteorigin_widget class=”WP_Widget_Media_Image”][/siteorigin_widget] [siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Button_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget] Dearest monks and artists, Today we release Day 6 Morning and Evening prayer of our Monk in the World audio podcast on the theme of conversion! Conversion is very much a monastic principle that has less to do with the idea of “being converted” as a one-time event and more of a commitment to a lifetime of growing and deepening. We are very much committed to the practice of conversion here at Abbey of the Arts, believing that none of us is done growing and transforming during our lives. There is always more to discover and

May 16, 2021

Monk in the World Guest Post: Carol Delmonico

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Carol Delmonico’s reflection, “The Child’s Way.” The More Than Human World is my Abbey. The sense of our sacred interconnectivity is awakened as I contemplate and cultivate reverence for all living beings. Our tan 1984 Volvo wagon pulls into the dirt parking lot at Shevlin Park. It’s early May,1994. My three year old daughter Phoebe is sitting in the backseat, beginning to unbuckle herself from her carseat. I open the back door and scoop all twenty five

May 13, 2021

Monk in the World Podcast (Sabbath) ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

[siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Button_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget] St. Julian and the Cat Stone by stone the wall grew until her cell was sealed, light blocked except for three small windows – one for sacrament another, food and waste a third to give guidance. Each day brought dozens to her praying for their sick and dead, night became time of solace and silence, she could not sleep long in the damp, pulled wool close around her as she sighed into the dark, relief at quiet moments. Then came mewing, leaping, pouncing, the cat left there to catch rats, at first annoyed at disruption she soon found

May 9, 2021

Monk in the World Guest Post: Katharine Weinmann

. I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Katharine Weinmann’s reflection “Holy Alchemy” “Praying. It doesn’t have to be the blue iris, it could be weeds in a vacant lot, or a few small stones; just pay attention, then patch a few words together and don’t try to make them elaborate…” ~ excerpted from Prayer in Thirst by Mary Oliver I pray. Not so often in that formal, elaborate, church going way. But when I think of Anne Lamott’s two favourite prayers, “Help me, help

May 5, 2021

Lift Every Voice: Contemplative Writers of Color – May Video Discussion and Book Group Materials Now Available

Join Abbey of the Arts for a monthly conversation on how increasing our diversity of perspectives on contemplative practice can enrich our understanding and experience of the Christian mystical tradition. Christine Valters Paintner is joined by author Claudia Love Mair for a series of video conversations. Each month they take up a new book by or about a voice of color. The community is invited to purchase and read the books in advance and participate actively in this journey of deepening, discovery, and transformation. Click here to view this month’s video discussion along with questions for reflection. Christine and Claudia are joined

May 5, 2021

Monk in the World podcast (Work) + Revelations ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

[siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Button_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget] Dearest monks and artists, This week we are delighted to share with you the audio podcasts for Day 4 morning and evening prayer of our Monk in the World prayer cycle on the theme of Work. We hope that you are enjoying being able to pray with us in this way! On May 13th – the feast of Julian of Norwich – I will be leading a Zoom mini-retreat on Julian and Margery Kempe with Mary Sharratt whose new novel Revelations about these two remarkable women was published last month. I am delighted to share this reflection from

May 2, 2021

Visit the Abbey of the Arts online retreat platform to access your programs:

Reflections

Filter

Sacred Balance ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Monk in the World Guest Post: Lisa Bozarth Ozaeta

Pentecost + Monk in the World podcast (Creative Joy)

Monk in the World Guest Post: Tom (TA) Delmore

Awakening the Creative Spirit + Monk in the World podcast (Conversion) ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Monk in the World Guest Post: Carol Delmonico

Monk in the World Podcast (Sabbath) ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Monk in the World Guest Post: Katharine Weinmann

Lift Every Voice: Contemplative Writers of Color – May Video Discussion and Book Group Materials Now Available

Monk in the World podcast (Work) + Revelations ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Upcoming Programs

Recent Reflections

Give Me a Word 2025

Monk in the World Guest Post: Sharon Dawn Johnson

Gratitude Blessing + The Love of Thousands Prayer Cycle Day 7~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Monk in the World Guest Post: Janeen Adil

Connect with Us